Republican official steps down after leaked audio of ‘bribing’ Kari Lake

By WND Staff

Arizona Republican Kari Lake on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (Video screenshot)
Arizona Republican Kari Lake on Election Night, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. (Video screenshot)

Politics in Arizona have been in turmoil for a number of years already and the fight isn’t always between the right, as represented by Republicans, and the left, by Democrats.

One of the latest disputes has erupted with Republicans on both sides.

And it has resulted in state GOP chairman Jeff DeWit announcing his resignation.

A report from a Fox affiliate in Phoenix reveals that the newest brush with conflict came about because several media outlets wrote about “an audio recording” that surfaced in which DeWit allegedly offered Kari Lake money in order to keep her out of the 2024 election cycle.

Those reports admitted they were unable to verify the authenticity of the recordings themselves, and DeWit claims the recordings were altered.

Get the hottest, most important news stories on the Internet – delivered FREE to your inbox as soon as they break! Take just 30 seconds and sign up for WND’s Email News Alerts!

In a letter announcing his decision to leave, DeWit claimed Lake “released a selectively edited audio record of our private conversation” and that actually was “deceptive.”

He wrote, “The recording, from over ten months ago, is not only taken out of context but also undermines the integrity of private discussions critical for party leadership. Contrary to the notion of me being an enemy of Lake’s, this conversation was recorded while I was actually employing Lake in my private company. In fact, for over a year and a half we had many conversations where I was looking out for her financial interests. The ethical breach in her recording of our conversation, while Lake was my employee, raises serious legal and moral concerns.”

Jeff DeWit (Video screenshot)
Jeff DeWit (Video screenshot)

He closed his letter with his announcement that, “I am doing as Ms. Lake wishes and am stepping down as chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.”

Lake, who was a strong Republlican candidate for governor last election, and has alleged problems in the state’s election system cost her the race, now is seeking the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Krysten Sinema, who was elected as a Democrat but later said she is an independent.

DeWit took credit for “significant improvements” in the state party during his tenure, including “legal victories for election integrity.”

He said, “Contrary to accusations of bribery, my discussions were transparent and intended to offer perspective, not coercion. Our relationship was based on friendship, and the conversation that is now being scrutinized was an open, unguarded exchange between friends in the living room of her house. I genuinely believed I was offering a helpful perspective to someone I considered a friend.”

He said he took the “unpaid role” to “contribute positively, with the primary focus being the betterment of Arizona and our nation.”

He also revealed the decision was under duress.

“This morning, I was determined to fight for my position. However, a few hours ago, I received an ultimatum from Lake’s team: resign today or face the release of a new, more damaging recording. I am truly unsure of its contents, but considering our numerous past open conversations as friends, I have decided not to take the risk. I am resigning as Lake requested, in the hope that she will honor her commitment to cease her attacks, allowing me to return to the business sector—a field I find much more logical and prefer over politics.”

He said he remains a supporter of President Trump, because he wants to see “low inflation, a secure border, and economic growth” brought back to the country,

Fox News reported Lake was firing back.

“The tape speaks for itself: The Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit attempted to bribe Kari Lake. Thankfully, Kari is an extremely ethical person who rejected DeWit’s multiple attempts to offer her money and corporate board seats in exchange for Kari not running for public office,” said a statement from campaign senior advisers Caroline Wren and Garrett Ventry.

They continued, “”She will be an incredible Senator for Arizonans. No one from the Kari Lake campaign threatened or blackmailed DeWit. It is unfortunate that Dewit hasn’t recognized how unethical his behavior was and still hasn’t apologized to Arizona Republicans. DeWit’s false claims are just par for the course. The Arizona GOP must be relieved to have his resignation. Now we can focus on getting ethical leadership and win big in 2024.”

IMPORTANT NOTE TO WND READERS: For America’s ruling elites, nothing is more precious, wonderful and life-giving to their great cause than the Jan. 6, 2021 “insurrection” at the U.S. Capitol. It’s irrelevant that the events didn’t come remotely close to constituting an actual “insurrection,” or that both police and over 200 undercover FBI assets provoked the riot – which Tucker Carlson calls a “set-up.” Yet Vice President Kamala Harris still insists the minor riot was just as horrific as the 9/11 terror attacks and Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

WHY are the elites doing this?

It’s not just because convicting, imprisoning, torturing and destroying the lives of hundreds of Trump supporters is meant to terrify and intimidate millions of Americans into submission. And it’s not just because activist judges and bureaucrats in over 30 states are absurdly trying to keep Trump off their state’s election ballots by citing the 14th Amendment’s prohibition against anyone who “engaged in insurrection” from holding elective office.

It’s because the elites’ destruction of America is so rapid, horrendous and obvious that they feel compelled to turn their opponents into monsters – or lose power at the next election. But that doesn’t mean just calling conservatives and Christians “racists,” “white supremacists,” “radical extremists” and “domestic terrorists” as they do continually. They know much more is needed.

Question: What if, far from being horrified by a half-baked riot they absurdly claim is worse than any domestic disturbance since the Civil War, the left actually LOVES the idea of violence on the right – the worse the better – since it perfectly serves their agenda? Increasingly, all the evidence strongly suggests today’s power-mad leftist elites not only intend to intimidate and discredit their political opponents by calling them terrorists, they mean to provoke actual violence.

The secret strategies and shocking tactics of today’s ascendant far-left elites are exposed as perhaps never before in the January issue of WND’s critically acclaimed monthly Whistleblower magazine, headlined “INCITING VIOLENCE: DEMS’ SECRET STRATEGY FOR STAYING IN POWER.”

WHISTLEBLOWER is available in both the popular print edition and a state-of-the-art digital version, either single issues or discounted annual subscriptions.

For 25 years, WND has boldly brought you the news that really matters. If you appreciate our Christian journalists and their uniquely truthful reporting and analysis, please help us by becoming a WND Insider!

Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. MAKE A DONATION TO THE NONPROFIT WND NEWS CENTER. THANK YOU!

 

Leave a Comment